Discussion:The New Kindle Oasis | My Thoughts

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Kindle Oasis

So, Amazon has yet again released a new Kindle to add to the ever growing eReader fam. The Kindle Oasis first appeared to the scene last year and has since released a new and updated version already.

The latest Oasis has a few new features that will definitely attract people. It is the FIRST EVER Kindle to be Waterproof! Yes, a waterproof Kindle! Kind of about time right! Another high feature is now they have brought back sound, and have included Audible. The new Oasis is now affiliated with Audible. You can download and listen to your Audible books right there on your Kindle. I love these two big selling points and it has had me wondering if I should soon upgrade from my Kindle Voyage to the new Oasis but there is one slight problem I do have. The price!!!

This new thinner than ever, top of the line eReader is coming in at a pricey cost of $249.99! And I thought my Kindle Voyage was a little high coming in at $199.99. I get the new features are top notch but this price is also top notch. I have wondered why in the book community I still see people with the Paperwhite, even though it is an excellent Kindle, but I wondered why people didn't want to upgrade? I asked a few ladies I know and basically, it all comes down to price. A lot of people think that Amazon has become high on prices. They don't make the Kindle Keyboard anymore, which was the first Kindle I ever owned. Then when they released the Paperwhite I upgraded. Going from the Keyboard to the Paperwhite, the price difference wasn't that different. Maybe $30, if that. Now, to upgrade from the Paperwhite to a Voyage, you are looking at an $80 upgrade. To go from the Paperwhite to the Oasis, you are looking at an $130 upgrade! And to go from the Voyage to an Oasis, you are looking at a $50 upgrade.

Amazon still offers the Kindle, coming in at $79.99. But it is a device that offers nothing. It is the Kindle Keyboard without the board. It doesn't have the back lighting, so no reading at night with it unless you have bedside table lamp. I don't see many of those around anymore and the few people I know that still have this Kindle is because they don't want to pay the cost of the upgrade. You are looking at $40 to upgrade to a Paperwhite. It is understandable.

Another thing you have to put into consideration, many other companies are releasing eReaders. Barnes and Noble is Amazon's biggest compatition when it comes down to it. I do not personally care for the Barnes and Noble eReader line, I think they are still really bulky and I don't care for some of the prices of Barnes and Noble but I know many people who like the Barnes and Noble eReaders and will only support Barnes and Noble. I personally LOVE my Kindle and at this point of owning an Amazon Kindle since 2011, I will never change over. I just think Amazon has more books and better deals. But Barnes and Noble is a big dealer too.

Kobo is another big one. I feel in the last year they have really stepped up and enhanced their eReader line. I have started to see Kobo more and more over the last year. Don't underestimate it. I see big things happening with Kobo in the future.

To say I will never upgrade to an Oasis, you know what they say, Never say Never. But at this time, I think I'll hold on to my Voyage for a bit longer. Hell, the thing isn't even a year old yet, it's not time.